Frequency of state pension payments

poseidon1

Thought it might be worth sharing this snippet of information.

Dwp present payment of the state pension as if every 4 weeks is the default position with no other options.

However, after receiving my letter last year to claim my state pension, I phoned the number thereon to see if I could get it weekly in the same way as recipients of the old pre 2016 state pension.

The answer was no, but I was then offered fortnightly payments and given another Dwp phone number to set it up. To cut a long story short, now in receipt of £407 state pension every fortnight.

Most people may nonetheless be happy enough with the 4 weekly ' default' option, but since the bulk of my income from other sources  is either half yearly or quarterly ( I have no employer's pension and an untouched accumulating sipp), this new fortnightly largesse fills the gaps nicely.

QrizB

I'm pretty sure that I've seen other threads recently and they've said you can still have your pension paid weekly.

You certainly could in 2021, if this Paul Lewis article is anything to go by:

https://www.radiotimesmoney.com/retirement/pension-advice/state-pensions-can-be-paid-every-seven-days-says-paul-lewis/

xylophone

You can opt to have your pension paid weekly.

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/globalassets/age-uk/documents/factsheets/fs19_state_pension_fcs.pdf

7.2 Payment

Most people have their State Pension paid directly into an account.

When you apply for your State Pension, you are given information about the different types of bank or building society accounts you can use. Your amount is usually paid four-weekly in arrears, although you can ask to be paid weekly or fortnightly. 

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/cost-of-living/simple-way-dwp-decides-your-8384273

If you would like to get your pension weekly, then while applying you should write "Please pay my pension weekly" in the "other information" box. If you're already claiming your pension monthly and want to change it to every seven days, you can contact the Pension Service on telephone: 0800 731 7898 or textphone: 0800 731 7339.

xylophone

See also

https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN00260/SN00260.pdf

Whether old state pension or new, in payment before or after 2010, the state pension remains a weekly benefit and while usually (which being interpreted means DWP default position) paid four weekly,  the recipient is free to choose weekly payment.

poseidon1

Very interesting indicators  suggesting the weekly option for the new state pension is still in exsistence. Also interesting that none of the above sources mention the fortnightly option I was advised was the only alternative, and which I currently receive.

Will certainly be ringing  Dwp to see if I was deliberately misled with regard to the weekly possibility, and will update here with the response in due course.

In the meantime anybody on this forum actually in receipt of the new post - 2016 state pension on a weekly basis?

sonny55

I receive the new state pension every week, as I requested at the time…
I have been in receipt of the new state pension since 2021 

squirrelpie

poseidon1 said:

Will certainly be ringing  Dwp to see if I was deliberately misled with regard to the weekly possibility, and will update here with the response in due course.

Why do you think it was deliberate rather than a mistake? "Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity."

poseidon1 said:

In the meantime anybody on this forum actually in receipt of the new post - 2016 state pension on a weekly basis?

I do.

xylophone

none of the above sources mention the fortnightly option 

From this link in my post above.

https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN00260/SN00260.pdf

Four changes were made for people reaching State Pension age from 6 April 2010, for whom the State Pension and Pension Credit are paid:

• In arrears, not in advance;

• Weekly, fortnightly or four-weekly (or at intervals of 13 weeks

  where the beneficiary agrees);

Silvertabby

Had it been an option, we would have both gone for calendar monthly/ last working day of the month payments.

Failing that, we went for 4 weekly payments - and have to say we do like how this results in two payments in one month every year.  

poseidon1

So, an update to previous post and thanks to Xylophone and other contributors for highlighting the continued availability of weekly state pension payments.

Today, i was told on the phone that it was entirely incorrect that I had been advised by a Dwp exec last year that the weekly payment regime had been withdrawn. Worse still, I should never have been offered the fortnightly option since this is being phased out for new claims other than the very limited circumstances where one may have been in receipt of a previous state benefit on a fortnight basis ( I had not ). 

It seems their computer systems should have recognised my ineligibility to the fortnight regime and rejected before ccommencement , the exec speculated that their new computer systems did not have this 'baked in' as yet.

After, apologies exec instantly changed payments to weekly, commencing next Tuesday. The forum here can take credit for this favourable outcome.

In passing, the exec did share that they are now being inundated with requests to switch from 4 weekly payments to weekly. No doubt the cost of living crisis is beginning to weigh heavily.

GibbsRule_No3.

I wonder how much it costs to pay people weekly rather than 4 weekly?